Smart sprinting mare Quilista has been given a freshen up as she drops back in distance for the Group 2 $200,000 McCafe Caulfield Sprint (1000m) at Caulfield on Caulfield Cup Day on Saturday.
Quilista, above, is dropping back in distance for the Caulfield Sprint at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Quilista is unplaced from three runs this campaign and trainer Darren Weir was in two minds whether to run her in the 1100m Listed $120,000 Carlton Draught Alinghi Stakes or drop her back to 1000m after her last start fourth to I Am Excited in the Group 2 $200,000 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on October 6.
“I hadn’t quite worked out where to run Quilista as I had thought about the Alignhi. She is going well now and back to the 1000m is the reason I decided to go with the earlier race,” Weir told Racenet.
Damian Lane will ride Quilista again in the Caulfield Sprint after partnering her in the Gilgai Stakes and her first up fourth to Faatinah in the Listed $120,000 SAJ Fruit Supply Carlyon Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on August 25.
At her other run this campaign John Allen was the pilot when Quilista finished last of eight in the Group 2 $200,000 Mitty’s McEwen Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 8.
Quilista was at her best during the 2018 Autumn Carnival when she strung together three wins on the trot when racing in the lead or on the pace and the five year old mare should be able to take up a handy position from barrier two in the nine horse Caulfield Sprint field.
Quilista’s hat trick of wins during the Autumn were in a $100,000 1200m Mares race at Flemington followed by her wins in the Group 3 $150,000 Birthday Card Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill and in the Group 2 $300,000 Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Caulfield Sprint has Quilista marked at $7.50 while the Sarah Zschoke trained Eduardo is the $3 favourite coming off a last start second in the Gilgai Stakes.
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